Chest Expansion
Chest Expansion - Related Videos
01:24
Flail Chest-I
0 Views •
2024
Overview of Flail Chest Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects. Pathophysiology The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
01:26
Flail Chest-II
0 Views •
2024
Managing flail chest, a condition characterized by a segment of the chest wall moving independently from the rest of the thoracic cage, requires a comprehensive approach. It includes a thorough assessment of the patient's condition, a diagnostic evaluation to determine the extent of the injury, and the implementation of appropriate medical interventions tailored to the individual's needs. Assessment: 1. Clinical Evaluation: History: • Nurses obtain a detailed history of the traumatic event,...
01:24
Chest Physiotherapy
0 Views •
2025
Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is a therapeutic technique used in respiratory care to improve ventilation, clear bronchial secretions, and enhance the efficiency of respiratory muscles. This therapy includes three primary procedures: postural drainage, percussion, and vibration. It can be performed on spontaneously breathing patients and those who are intubated and mechanically ventilated. Purpose CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
13:42
A Murine Closed-chest Model of Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion
0 Views •
Cited by 19 •
2012
Surgical trauma induces an inflammatory response. Cytokines and endogenous ligands are known to modulate myocardial infarct size following ischemia and reperfusion. We present a modified closed-chest model of murine ischemia and reperfusion using hanging weights to minimize effects of thoracotomy.
09:42
Analysis of Thermal Expansion via Dilatometry
0 Views •
2023
Source: J. Jacob Chavez, Ryan T. Davis, and Taylor D. Sparks, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT Thermal expansion is extremely important when considering which materials will be used in systems that experience fluctuations in temperature. A high or low thermal expansion in a material may or may not be desirable, depending on the application. For instance, in a common liquid thermometer, a material with a high thermal expansion would be...
FAQs
The difference between chest circumference at full expiration and full inspiration represents thoracic excursion, or how much the chest moves with breathing. A reduced excursion suggests that the thoracic cage or lungs are not expanding fully, while a larger or changing measurement can help clinicians track respiratory movement over time. This makes the assessment useful for identifying altered breathing mechanics.
Comparing movement on both sides helps distinguish a generalized reduction from a one-sided abnormality. Similar excursion suggests that respiratory movement is distributed relatively evenly, whereas asymmetry may indicate limited ventilation or unilateral pulmonary disease. Side-to-side comparison therefore adds clinical information that a single circumference measurement cannot provide during a respiratory examination.
Pain or restriction of the chest wall can limit the ability of the thorax to enlarge during inhalation. The resulting reduction in measured excursion may reflect impaired movement rather than a direct measurement of lung function alone. Interpreting the tape measurement alongside observed breathing mechanics helps clinicians consider whether discomfort or mechanical limitation contributes to the finding.
The clinician places a measuring tape around the chest, records the circumference at full expiration, and then records it again at full inspiration. The difference between these readings provides the excursion. Repeating the comparison on both sides, when appropriate, helps identify asymmetry and creates a more informative bedside assessment than recording only one respiratory phase.
Chest expansion is useful during a respiratory examination when clinicians need a simple bedside indicator of thoracic movement. It can help identify reduced or asymmetric ventilation-related movement and support recognition of abnormal breathing mechanics. Because the measurement is straightforward, it can also provide a baseline against which later clinical changes are compared.
A baseline measurement allows clinicians to compare chest movement at later assessments. Changes in excursion or side-to-side symmetry may help show whether respiratory movement has changed during treatment or rehabilitation. The measurement does not replace the broader respiratory examination, but it adds a repeatable observation for monitoring progress and identifying persistent mechanical abnormalities.